In 1995, April 19 dawned sunny and bright and I barely registered that fact because I was trying to drop my children off at school and daycare and get in to work. The youngest of my three children was not yet 1 years old so mornings were pretty hectic as I attempted to get bookbags, my purse, a diaper bag and other assorted stuff into the car — and the kids too.

I had been sitting at my desk here at The Oklahoman for approximately 17 minutes when the bomb blew apart the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. My editor sent me to University/Children’s Hospital near downtown Oklahoma City to report on any happenings there. By 9: 25 a.m., I was on the Broadway Extension headed to my assignment for the day. I had no way of knowing that that morning would be the last morning that 168 people would ever experience on this Earth or that my own life and that of countless other Oklahomans and Americans would ever be the same. By the end of that workday which stretched to about 8 p.m., I climbed in my car emotionally drained and headed  to pick up my children. Since my husband at that time was a first responder at the Murrah Building site, relatives had picked the children up and kept them until I could get off work.

I’d started my day just trying to get the children to where they needed to go and in the hustle and bustle of the hectic morning, I couldn’t remember what I said or if I had kissed them. I ended the day with a desperate need to see them and hear them and touch them again. My oldest was 8 years old at the time and he knew what had happened but he didn’t understand the magnitude of it, of course. The younger children were oblivious. All they knew was that that night I hugged them and kissed them many, many times and wanted to hear about every minute of their day. It had dawned on me that while I had expected — assumed — that many children from the daycare center inside the Murrah Building would be sent to hospitals due to injuries, the fact was that the majority of those little ones died. Mothers and fathers and grandparents had dropped them off that morning but most of those children never made it back home.

This morning, the 17th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, I leapt out of bed with the knowledge that I had an important phone interview at 8:45 a.m. I rushed and packed up my numerous bags for the day (purse, notebook tote, lunch, gym bag …) and headed out to the car. I took my daughter, now 17, to school and as we drove there, it dawned on me just what day it was. So even though I was in a hurry once again, I made sure that we had a nice chat. She didn’t realize it, I’m sure,  but I took a moment just to look at her sweet face and marvel at how precious she is to me, how all of my loved ones are so precious to me. Everyday that we get to spend with our friends and family is another day to say “Hey, I love you.” We say ”I’ll see you later” and sometimes take for granted that we will, indeed, see them later, but no day is promised to us.

And guess what? After all that, I got to work for my phone interview and another one after that but I had to go back home because I left my laptop there. It’s easy to forget stuff when you are busy, busy. I’m just glad that I didn’t forget to take the time to really appreciate the people I care about most, to have our parting glimpses of each be filled with smiles and laughter.  

Let’s keep each other lifted up in prayer today. Say a prayer for someone you know is hurting or lonely. Say a prayer for someone you know has perhaps forgotten to take the time to smell the proverbial roses. Say a prayer for someone you need to forgive or someone you want to forgive you. Say a prayer for the survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing, the loved ones of those killed on that April 19 17 years ago and for all those impacted by this horrific event.

“We will never forget.”   

(Cutline: Participants gather at the 2011 Day of Remembrance Ceremony at the 16th annual Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial ceremony. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman)

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

OK, enough with the drama. I just wanted to share a picture that was taken today during my latest adventure.

That’s me, if you are wondering, on the right, in all  my white jumpsuit in the middle of August glory. You can barely see my face, but it’s me. Actually there’s a reason I have that outfit on. That’s Brother Simeon Spitz on the left.

Learn why we are all decked out in Saturday’s (Aug. 13) Life section.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Some humorous ideas came to mind, of course.

For instance, one of my coworkers wondered aloud what she should wear for this occasion.

But on a more serious note, we wondered what we would put on the ultimate bucket list.

Here’s my list. Warning, for the cynics out there: It’s sentimental … but then I’m sentimental.

If the world is ending tomorrow, I need to:

1. Put aside old (and some new) grudges and forgive. Read The Oklahoman’s May 21 Life section  for a story about someone who is grateful to have forgiven another person for the most heinous of crimes. Having experienced the power of forgiveness firsthand, I’m not sure why I let unforgiveness build up in areas of my life. Fortunately, I have learned to recognize when my heart is hardening with unforgiveness and I call upon my faith to remind me of the grace and mercy shown me throughout my own life. That puts a whole other perspective to forgiveness. How can I not forgive?

It reminds me of one of my favorite songs by my favorite Gospel recording artist, Fred Hammond. The second verse of his song “Lord, Your Grace” says:

“Where sin abounds grace abounds so much more
Covering me from the sun to the floor
And if I forget then the spirit of grace cries out
Peace
(And I remember)
Sweet peace.”

2. Ask for forgiveness. After No. 1 on this list, this should be an easy one, but it’s not.  Of course, if we know we are not perfect then we know that we have done things we shouldn’t have at least at some point in our lives.  Why then is it so hard to admit we are wrong?

3. Touch my kids’ faces and tell them I love them. This one may be difficult to do since one of my children lives in another state. Two are still at home under my roof, though. Sometimes, I stop them from whatever they are doing and just touch their cheek and smile at them. They think I”m kooky of course, but deep down they recognize this as just another expression of my love for them. And I can call my son who lives out of state and talk to him. 

4. Talk to my mom. I don’t know about anybody else, but my mother is great. She’s a very loving person who also can be tough if need be. She’s a dynamo and a genius — my biggest hero. I didn’t know that until I grew up and had children of my own but I certainly know it now. I don’t think I could ever tire of telling my mother how wonderful she is, but I probably don’t say it enough. If the world as we know it is to come to an end, then certainly I would want to tell her one more time.   

5.  Have a huge family reunion. I’d love to invite my whole family, I mean everyone, to a big bash where we could see each other one last time, eat all the foods we’ve been told not to eat and dance to reunion favorites like Sister Sledge’s  ”We Are Family.” Actually, I am related to Sister Sledge so that would be fitting.        

OK, now that I got my serious list done, here’s my “for fun” list:

What I’d do today if I knew the world was ending tomorrow (Plans/dreams are in random order) … and I had an unlimited budget:

1. Fly to Maui, Hawaii, and spend a day at the beach reading one of my favorite books. Every now and then, I’d take a swim in the ocean. I’ve been to Maui once before and my dream is to get there again some day. If my last day is imminent, then this dream should happen now.

2. Look for an upscale penthouse apartment in New York City and lease one (for the night). That was one of my dreams … to be a magazine writer living in a penthouse in New York City.  

3. Take the kiddos (who are now teens who may not even want to go) to Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando and just plan on camping out there. Yes, I even want to see Mickey and Minnie.

4.  Travel to Jerusalum and follow the path of Jesus.

5. Have a round table discussion with some of my favorite authors and writers. They might not like that since they all write on different subjects, some serious nonfiction and others fiction. It would be nice for me to ask them questions I’ve had over the years. Some of them include Alice Walker, Elie Wiesel, James Patterson,  Diane Mott Davidson …

6. Attend an Earth, Wind and Fire concert and dance the entire night away. I’d watch a fantastic fireworks display at the conclusion.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

Grimes, 51, succumbed to cancer.

I wrote a Dec. 24, 2009 story about the Grimes family and the home makeover that was funded and conducted by their friends, community volunteers, public safety groups and businesses.

The day I visited the couple’s newly renovated house in Midwest City, Michelle Grimes was up and moving around, talking to friends who had gathered to help the family move back into their home. She said she was appreciative of all the efforts that friends Scott and DeAnn Warful had made to coordinate the huge community project that resulted in the newer, comfortable surroundings.

The renovations were completed just in time for the family to move in and have Christmas together in their refurbished home.

Michelle Grimes’  illness was one of the main reasons her friends rallied to make the family’s home as nice as possible.

She and her husband, Dan, had been in ministry together for many, many years and were known for their love and compassion for others.

It’s good to know that what she gave freely, came flowing back to her in such a unique way.

My thoughts and prayers are with Dan Grimes and the Grimes family.

(PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN: In this December 2009 photo, Scott and DeAnn Warful stand with Michelle and Dan Grimes inside the Grimes’ newly remodeled home in Midwest City .) 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor       

Ok, the Christmas shopping season officially begins Friday and I just learned about a Christmas button that some folks in other parts of the country are wearing as they flock to stores.

It’s part of a campaign called “Wish Me a Merry Christmas” that has folks who want retailers to return to greeting them with “Merry Christmas” when they shop in their stores.

You see the button here with this posting.

Apparently, individuals and churches are purchasing these buttons from the campaign Web site at www.wmamc.com. More than 200,000 of the buttons have been distributed, the campaign’s organizers said.

  They noted that in a 2004 Gallup Poll, 88 percent of Americans said it was OK for retailers to wish them a “Merry Christmas.”

In a news release, campaign manager Ashley Tarter said the goal of the campaign is to:

1.  To actively retract adverse corporate holiday wishing policies, by returning to the traditional and explicit “Merry Christmas” phrase;

2. To restore use of the symbols, language and sounds of Christmas in in-store displays, signage and music, as well as in November and December advertising.

I searched on the campaign’s Web site and, as yet, there is not a charter church spearheading the campaign in Oklahoma.

It’s an interesting initiative though.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The premiere of the feature film “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” again brings to reel-life the love story of  Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend Edward.

Beliefnet.com has a new posting offering Claudia Mair Burney’s perspective on the spirituality one can find in the popular tale of teen love and angst.

“I’m also a junkie for the Twilight Saga’s completely unrealistic love story. “Who acts like that?”, I ask myself, but I keep coming back. Deep down inside I knew who acted that way. Edward’s inhumanly perfect love and Bella’s passionate attachment to him echoed —don’t laugh—the sacred romance between God and me,” Burney wrote.

Check it out at “Spiritual Lessons of Twilight.”  

Saturday, Beliefnet.com will feature a movie review of the new film by Movie Mom Nell Minow.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The leaders of Sherwood Pictures, the makers of the popular Christian-themed film “Fireproof,” announced the name and premise of their next film, their fourth, on Sunday.

The movie is to be called “Courageous” and will focus on fatherhood, the leaders said.

Sherwood Pictures is an outreach ministry of Sherwood Church in Albany, Ga. The church’s senior pastor, the Rev. Michael Catt (at right) , along with the church’s executive pastor the Rev. Jim McBride and ministers Stephen and Alex Kendrick, made the announcement.

I’ve talked to Catt before for a column about the church’s movie-making role, and spoke to Stephen Kendrick about “The Love Dare” book from “Fireproof” for a story. All seemed to be very passionate about the church’s venture into the arena of making movies with strong Christian content.

 A news release was sent out about the recent annoucement.  Alex Kendrick, the release said, briefly outlining the plot Sunday: ”Four fathers who are all in law enforcement — who protect and serve together — go through a terrible tragedy,” he said. “They begin looking at their role as fathers . . . and they begin challenging one another to fulfill God’s intention for fathers.”

Catt said the single-word title echoes God’s call for men to “rise with courage” in their homes and as leaders”  at a time when numerous marriages end in divorce and more than one-third of all children live away from their biological fathers.

“The statistics on fatherless children are devastating,” McBride said. “And because the family is the building block of society, one important place to rebuild families is through fathers who stay and lead and love.”

“God led us,” co-writer and producer Stephen Kendrick said. ”We believe God is calling men to rise up with strength and with leadership in their homes, with their families and with their children.”

All four leaders of Sherwood Pictures are husbands and fathers. Pastor Catt has two children; Pastor McBride has four; Stephen Kendrick has four; and Alex Kendrick has six.

Principle filming of  “Courageous” is to begin in March 2010 in Albany. Like the previous three Sherwood films, the movie will be marketed by Provident Films.

For more information about the new movie, visit www.CourageoustheMovie.com.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The original version of the handwritten Bible Across America is on the auction block today and proceeds of the eBay auction will benefit Biblica, the translation sponsor of the New International Version translation.

Last year, more than 200 Oklahomans had the opportunity to contribute a handwritten verse to the Bible when the Bible Across America tour stopped at Casady School. The tour was hosted by Zondervan to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the NIV Bible. After a nine-month cross country tour cover 22,579 miles, 90 cities and 40 states, more than 31,000 people had a hand in writing Bible Across America, Zondervan said in a news release.

Two original copies were created during the tour and each page was checked and scanned to create a published version which will be released in stores on Dec. 1 and also will be available for purchase online at www.bibleacrossamerica.com.

If you are interested in the auction go online to http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Bible-Across-America-Charity-Sale and make an offer. The auction closes on Nov. 22.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

P.S. The illustration above is just that, an illustration. It is not the Bible Across America being auctioned.

Franklin’s concert will be at 6 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church, 1700 NE 7. The concert is free and will feature guest appearances by local Gospel artist Sean Johnson and Wings of Harmony, a performing arts ensemble.

The tour is in partnership with the American Heart Assocation’s Power to End Stroke initiative. Franklin performed in concert in Tulsa over the summer. An Oklahoma City concert was planned, but officials were working with Franklin’s busy schedule and trying to find an Oklahoma City  location to host the event. Many people had been asking me if a date had been set for the Oklahoma City concert so I’m glad that I can finally give them some facts. 

I just saw Franklin perform at the 2009 Woman Thou Art  Loosed Conference at Bishop T.D. Jake’s church The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. He was, as usual, outstanding. As part of the upcoming health tour, the Grammy Award-winning artist will encourage concert-goers to pledge to take control of their health, reduce their risk of stroke and learn the warning signs of stroke.

Save the date.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor